Oxygen Protons Neutrons Electrons (And How to Find them?)

Oxygen has 8 protons, 8 neutrons and 8 electrons.

But how will you find the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in Oxygen (O)?

Well, it is very easy to find the protons, neutrons and electrons of oxygen atom.

Here I have given a very simple method for finding the protons, neutrons and electrons of oxygen atom.

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Oxygen

How to find protons?

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom. ^[1]

How to find neutrons?

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.

How to find electrons?

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.

Let’s calculate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in oxygen.

If you don’t want to read, then you can also watch this video.

#1 Number of Protons in Oxygen

If you have a periodic table with you, then most of the answers are in front of you.

You can see the elements, their atomic number and their atomic mass from the periodic table.

Now here our element is Oxygen (O).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of oxygen is 8.

As the atomic number of oxygen is 8, it has a total of 8 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Oxygen is 8.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Oxygen

In order to find the number of neutrons of an oxygen atom, you should know its atomic mass first.

The number of neutrons in oxygen can be obtained by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.

The atomic mass of oxygen is 15.999 u (which you can round it to 16). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 16), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 8).

So you will get 16 – 8 = 8.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Oxygen is 8.

#3 Number of Electrons in Oxygen

For a neutral atom, the number of electrons and the number of protons are the same.

Here, the oxygen atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in oxygen is equal to its number of protons (which is also equal to its atomic number).

In the beginning, we have found that the number of protons in oxygen is 8.

Thus, the number of electrons in Oxygen is 8.

Summary

Number of Protons in Oxygen

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Oxygen = Atomic number of Oxygen = 8

Number of Neutrons in Oxygen

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Oxygen = Atomic mass of Oxygen – Atomic number of Oxygen = 16 – 8 = 8

Number of Electrons in Oxygen

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Oxygen = Atomic number of Oxygen = 8

I hope you have understood the simple method for finding the protons, neutrons and electrons of oxygen atom.

Check out related topics for more practice;
Fluorine protons neutrons electrons
Neon protons neutrons electrons
Aluminum protons neutrons electrons
Silicon protons neutrons electrons
Phosphorus protons neutrons electrons